The Senate has said it may still confirm Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), only if President Muhammadu Buhari explains why they have to. It said that the explanation by Buhari, who nominated Magu, would determine if the nominee would be considered or not.


On Thursday this week, the lawmakers rejected Magu’s nomination, because of a “security report” on him.

The security report by the Department of State Services (DSS), has since entered public space.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, told Punch: “This is not an issue that is ambiguous and I will not take issue with anybody. What we have said is very straightforward and unambiguous. It is not our responsibility or in our power to tell Mr. President what to do.

“It is his prerogative and for every action taken, there must be a basis. Let him take any action but, of course, he will base his action on explanations. If that happens, we will take his explanations based on their face value and see. Until then, our decision is very simple. It is unambiguous; that is what we said from the beginning and that is what we stand by.”

The Senate also said Magu’s rejection would be communicated to the Presidency next week.

Abdullahi said: “Allow us to do our job. This thing (rejection) just happened yesterday (Thursday). There is a procedure for the communication. We took the decision yesterday. Is the letter not going to be written? Is that the only issue that they (Presidency) have to deal with?

“This thing happened yesterday and who should do the communication? Is it not the clerk? Between yesterday and today, are there not so many things to be done? Is that the only thing we have ahead of us?

“We have taken our decision and the procedure for communicating it is there. Allow it to happen. Wait till next week and see whether it will be communicated (to the Presidency) or not.”